The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-10-07
DUB NEXT LEGISLATURE

lne Legislative OOdy OF Mlssll
sippi thatacUnvened iu January
1885, is remembered rs the "juDE
citing" Legislature. While tn
most vital issues were pending
presenting the most Intricate ques
tons OF political economy for solo
riOn al ouce, then and there, man,
of those trusted aud paid servant
of the people were actually Skunk
eting," riding, rOllOcking aud frOl
licking away their time. Had they
done vii they could dol Then
certainly, their powers we're more
limited than their cOnstltuenti
reckoned. They passed bills, il il
true, aud they certainly passed too
many or not enough, AN experience
has proven. Appropriations were
made without providing the reve-
que to meet them. If such was
done in ignorance OF the States
financial condition, such ignorance
could oBly be excused under u plea
OF diligence in obtaining intOrma.
ton. Could such u plea be suS-
tainedf It not, and We believe not,
we are bound to conclude that the
Legislature of 1886, as n body, was
a failure. The one conspicuous fea-
ture of the dOings of that body was
the "WOol Hat" crusade, aud that
was, We believe, more hampcred by
q dead weight of dO-nothingism
than administrative opposition.
Now, it comes TO pass that His
Excellency, the Governor, arraigns
that Legislature by turning States
evidence against it in defense Of
himself, now on trial for the bank.
rupt condition of the States flnan-
ces So tar as that goes it is good,
and il the Governor could show in
the same connection a single veto
message advising the Legislature
of SpprOm iatiOns III excess of reve-
hue provided for, we should accept
his defense as good. That he did
not do, aud hence our Governor is a
failure as "A check upon ill-advised
legislation.
There will be many changes in
the next Legislature, however, and
that body will assemble this winter
fully aware OF the States financial
condition. They will assemble
with full knowledge that the people
r anxiOns about the matter of the
States bonded, interest bearing
debt that is increasing every year.
They know by experience that the
constitutional veto check is a loose
rein and not to be relied on except
to approve with tue pen and con
denim on the hustings when i. is too
Aud just here, pardon the
depression, the Governor is very
much in the position of a certain
smart little girl who escaped a
I~hrashing by u defense he might
truthfully interpOse. johnny WAS
assigned a task which be neglected
10 perform. His irate paterndl an
upon returning home, de.
handed of him what he had been
"Nothin'," whereupon the
old man gave him a g%enteel thrash
ing, and then turned to the little
aud deman led, "What
you been doing I" A bright
.dea had taken possession of the
little miss, and she replied conf
"Oh, Pve been helpin' Bud.
ly, papa" The Governor helped
he last Legislature to do worse
bsu nothing, and be can be count
d on for that kind of help. Hence,
be only chance we have of avert
ne absolute bankruptcy is to get d
'orkiRg, wise, fnanceeriug Legisla.
nre that will stick to business, avoid
rejudice aud duly reflect on the
assage of every act effecting the
finances. The people look
D the next Legislature to inaugu-
ate a reform too long delayed.
Will they do it 7 or will they go
junketingT We will see ere the
une roses blow.